Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, officially handed over the position of Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, at the 67th ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Summit held in Abuja on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
This handover marked the end of President Tinubu’s two-term leadership of the regional body. His tenure commenced in July 2023 in Guinea-Bissau and was renewed a year later in Abuja, a move aimed at ensuring continuity and consistency in addressing the region’s pressing security, reconciliation, and development issues.
President Bio’s election as the new ECOWAS Chair had been anticipated, despite prior speculations that Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye had been selected during a private meeting ahead of the summit.
In his inaugural address, President Bio laid out his priorities, which include: restoring constitutional order, deepening democracy, enhancing regional security cooperation, advancing economic integration, and reinforcing institutional credibility within the community.
“We must operationalise the ECOWAS Standby Force now,” President Tinubu had earlier urged his West African counterparts, emphasizing the need for immediate action on regional security matters.
Reflecting on his time at the helm, President Tinubu thanked the leaders for their trust in him over two terms as Chair. “As we look forward to the future of West Africa, I remain optimistic that with continued cooperation, ECOWAS will overcome greater challenges and achieve stability, prosperity, and security for the region,” he said.
The outgoing chairman acknowledged the numerous complex challenges faced during his tenure, including political transitions, regional security trends, and the pressing need for diplomatic unity. He called for sustained vigilance and adaptability, highlighting the importance of inclusive growth, especially for youth, women, and vulnerable populations, in shaping the future of the region.
He concluded by stressing that ECOWAS must maintain a careful balance between its foundational mandate of economic integration and the growing political and security challenges faced by member states. “Economic integration cannot be imposed on a fragile political landscape,” he asserted, urging the organization to remain resolute in addressing both current and emerging challenges.